Single output channel adapter for charging during laptop sleep mode

Abstract

A method of and device for providing voltages to USB ports using an independent electrical channel during a device sleep mode or a power-off mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of maintaining power supply comprising:
 receiving a first electrical energy at an electric energy input port of an electronic device from a single output channel adapter that is coupled at the electric energy input port; 
 supplying the first electrical energy to an electric energy output port of the electronic device through a primary path coupling between the ports and to an internal battery through a secondary path coupling between the electric energy input port and the internal battery, wherein the primary path and the secondary path are both supplied with the first electrical energy at the same time; 
 sensing a sleep mode or a power-off mode of the electronic device; and 
 in response to the sensing, supplying a second electrical energy by the external single output channel adapter to the electric energy output of the electronic device through an alternative path coupling between the ports, wherein the first electrical energy and the second electrical energy received at the electric energy input port have different voltages and are transmitted through the primary path and the alternative path, respectively. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electric energy output port provides an informational signal. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electric energy output port comprises a USB port. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the supplying the second electrical energy through the alternative path provides an uninterrupted power supply during the sleep mode. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sensing an open circuit between a power source and the electric energy output port. 
     
     
       6. An electronic device comprising:
 an electronic energy input port configured to couple with a single output channel adapter; 
 an electronic energy output port configured to couple with an external personal device; 
 a first electrical pathway allowing transmission of a first electrical energy having a first voltage from the single output channel adapter received at the electronic energy input port to the electronic energy output port during a non-sleep mode of the electronic device; 
 a third electrical pathway allowing transmission of the first electrical energy from the single output channel adapter received at the electronic energy input port to an internal battery during the non-sleep mode of the electronic device, wherein the first electrical pathway and the third electrical pathway are both supplied with the first electrical energy at the same time; and 
 a second electrical pathway allowing transmission of a second electrical energy having a second voltage that is different from the first voltage from the single output channel adapter received at the electronic energy input port to the electronic energy output port during a sleep mode of the electronic device, wherein the second electrical energy received from the single output channel adapter is directly usable by the external personal device. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the second electrical pathway comprises a conducting wire. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the conducting wire is within a body of the electronic device. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 7 , wherein the conducting wire comprises a switch. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the switch is in an open state when the electronic device is not in a sleep mode. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the switch is in a close state when the electronic device is in a sleep mode. 
     
     
       12. An electronic device comprising:
 an electronic energy input port configured to couple with a single output channel adapter and to receive one of a plurality of different electrical energies having different voltages from the single output channel adapter based on one of a plurality of modes the electronic device is in; and 
 an electronic energy output port configured to couple with an external personal device to receive the one of the plurality of different electrical energies via one of a plurality of electrical circuits that corresponds with the received electrical energy, wherein the plurality of electrical circuits includes:
 a first electrical circuit coupling between the input and output ports, wherein the first electrical circuit is configured to be turned into a sleep mode in a predetermined condition; and 
 a second electrical circuit coupling between the input and output ports, wherein the second electrical circuit is configured to supply an electrical energy that is directly received at the electronic energy input port from the single output channel adapter to the electronic energy output port when the first electrical circuit is in the sleep mode. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the first electrical circuit comprises a first sub-electric circuit and a second sub-electric circuit. 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 13 , wherein the first sub-electric circuit couples with a battery. 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the second sub-electric circuit couples with a USB port. 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the second sub-electric circuit comprises a DC/DC converter, wherein the battery and the external personal device are charged concurrently when the first electrical circuit is not in the sleep mode. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the second electrical circuit comprises a switch. 
     
     
       18. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the second electrical circuit is configured to have a voltage less than 7V. 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the second electrical circuit is configured to have a voltage close to or equal to 5V. 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the electronic device comprises a laptop, a server, a cell phone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the predetermined condition comprises a non-use for a predetermined duration.